The ultimate sushi guide by Sushiuniversity

What is Conveyer Belt Sushi?

Kaiten-zushi or conveyer belt sushi is a popular way to enjoy a wide range of sushi toppings at reasonable prices in a casual environment where the whole family can relax. Its roots were established in 1958 when Mr. Yoshiaki Shiraishi, who ran a standing sushi restaurant, was inspired by a conveyor belt he saw in a beer factory. He invented a conveyor belt for sushi (kaiten-zushi) and obtained a patent.

In 1970, kaiten-zushi appeared at the Osaka World Expo to great acclaim, earning it a huge amount of publicity. For the first time it met the needs of convenience, simple billing, and providing low prices compared with the more traditional luxury of a typical sushi restaurant of the time.

Then, in 1978 new players entered the market when the original machine patent expired.

In 1991, Genii Sushi made an offering of stock to the public – the first in the sushi industry. That same year “kaiten-zushi” was entered into the Japanese dictionary.

As we entered the 21st century, there were two types of major suburban kaiten-zushi restaurants; those offering kaiten-zushi plates at ¥100, as well as more “gourmet” style kaiten-zushi brands offering plates for a few hundred yen.

Since the Lehman Brothers shock in 2008, the rise of major chains in the kaiten-zushi industry has been spectacular. In particular, there are four companies dominating: Sushiro, Kura-sushi, Hama-sushi, and Kappa-sushi.

In recent years, unique features have been introduced such as touch-screen ordering and reservation apps, establishing a whole new genre of sushi which has taken on an identity of its own. These establishments have expanded their side menus so sushi is no longer the only main menu item, and they have adopted choices from other fast-food restaurants (pork & rice bowls, curry, ramen, deserts etc.) so they have turned into much more comprehensive restaurants.

If we take a look at this phenomenon overseas, the kaiten-zushi system and business model has spread beyond Japan and the East Asian region to find global popularity, starting in 1990. Major cities in America and Europe have numerous sushi restaurants employing the kaiten-zushi system.

The characteristics of sushi, after all, are that it is easy to eat and a flavor that anyone can enjoy. However, there are some downsides. The tuna is almost all imported frozen. A lot of the toppings use substitutes imported from overseas and farmed fish. The work of creating the sushi is done by a robot so sometimes the shari (vinegar rice) and the topping are not pressed together properly. Without the important pressing step, the fish is essentially just lying on the rice, rather than the two parts becoming one, delicious piece of sushi. And most of all, there is no time and effort put into maturing the sushi toppings so it is like eating vinegar rice with sashimi on it. It may be called sushi, but it’s become a completely different genre than Edo-style Sushi.